dancing with the truth

I have thought for more than 24 hours about the issue I want to raise today but then thought: Do it. Analyse it. Because it raises an issue that annoys many Australians. We have touched on it many times before with the cases of drunken footballers and sportsmen accused of rape. And sporting legends. There is a feeling among a lot of people – especially women – that sports stars can do what they want. That they feel they are a law unto themselves. That community rules don’t apply to them… if they grope a woman in a bar or pee under a casino blackjack table.

I raise it today because of the case of a real sporting legend in this country. One of the best. Some people would misuse the word “ icon” to describe her.

I am talking about Dawn Fraser. She won swimming gold medals for the same event at three consecutive Olympic Games. Could have made it four if draconian Australian swimming officials hadn’t banned her for ten years for her part in the stealing of an Olympic flag from the Palace at the Tokyo Olympics. As it turned out, she was involved, but she took the fall for the Aussie team doctor who actually committed the theft.

Dawn Fraser is in the news this week because of a dispute with her Sydney neighbours about a disabled parking spot that has been designated outside her home.

Balmain residents have claimed she used her profile as a former sporting hero and as a National Treasure to get approval from the Road Traffic Authority and Leichhardt council.

Fraser claims that the disabled space is not there just for her use.

“It may look that way but it’s not my personal parking space”.  She does have a disabled parking permit. And that raises another issue:

How does she get a disabled permit. The news reports say that she has “a history of heart problems”. As I understand it she has angina. Lots of older Australians have angina but they don’t get access to disabled parking spots.

And to top it off. How disabled is she? Dawn Fraser has just competed in the top-rating TV programme Dancing With The Stars. And that takes some stamina. I know personally. I rehearsed and danced on the programme for more than four months. I do not believe a person who qualified for a disabled permit could have gone through the rigours of hours and hours of rehearsals.

And I also wonder if she is getting a disability pension? I think she’s been dancing with the truth.

Friday, October 21, 2005

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2005